Carmen
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-09-30
Search interest for the Azores is climbing fast among Canadian travellers, and from Toronto the appeal is easy to understand. You get a genuine Europe trip without the longer transatlantic feel of many mainland routes. For travellers in Eastern Canada, the islands sit on one of the shortest paths to Europe, which can mean a simpler first overseas trip or an easier long weekend extension. If you want Atlantic scenery, mild weather and a calmer pace, the Azores fit the moment.
Why the Azores make sense from Toronto
From YYZ, the Azores stand out because geography works in your favour. Sitting in the mid-Atlantic, the archipelago is closer than many travellers expect when they think of Europe. That makes São Miguel and Terceira especially interesting if you want to cross the ocean without committing to a longer itinerary straight away. For Canadians used to comparing flight time carefully, this shorter eastbound option can feel more manageable than classic southern Europe gateways, especially for one-week trips.
São Miguel and Terceira offer different trips
São Miguel is the island most travellers picture first: crater lakes, thermal areas, dramatic green viewpoints and easy self-drive days. Terceira feels more compact and cultural, with a strong local identity, historic Angra do Heroísmo and a lively festival tradition. If you are deciding between them, São Miguel usually suits first-time visitors who want iconic landscapes, while Terceira often appeals if you prefer heritage, town life and a slightly less obvious island choice. Together, they create a strong two-island itinerary.
Best season: May to October
For most travellers from Canada, the most reliable season runs from May to October. You usually get greener landscapes, longer days and better conditions for scenic drives, coastal walks and boat outings. This is also when the hydrangeas that line many roads are most photogenic, though exact timing varies by elevation and island. Whale watching is another major draw in the warmer half of the year, but sightings are never guaranteed, so it is worth treating any excursion as nature first, checklist second.
How to add Lisbon without overcomplicating the trip
One of the smartest ways to plan the Azores is to combine them with Lisbon. The islands are part of Portugal, so onward connections can make a city-and-nature split feel straightforward rather than forced. You could start with a few days in Lisbon for food, neighbourhoods and museums, then continue to São Miguel or Terceira for volcanic scenery and ocean air, or do it in reverse. Because Reisedrop tracks fares and highlights drops, you can monitor prices and book when the timing looks right.
What to watch before you book from Canada
From Toronto, compare not only direct and connecting options, but also total travel time, overnight timing and baggage rules. If fares from YYZ look stubborn, it can be worth checking YUL as an alternative if positioning is easy for you, while YVR and YYC are better suited to travellers already planning a longer trip. Weather in the Azores can change quickly in any season, so build some flexibility into outdoor plans. For most Canadians, that trade-off is exactly the charm.
See flights
Fancy exactly this? Zazou, our travel assistant, puts flights, hotels and a route together in seconds - and tells you honestly when it gets cheaper.
Plan this trip with Zazou